Environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition on Thursday warned the public against unsafe fancy nail art sets now being sold at cheap price in Manila, particularly in the area of Divisoria.
The product, the group stated, has dibutyl phthalate adhesive that contains a substance banned in cosmetic products.
Ecowaste made the warning after it tested a test buy last Wednesday from retailers in 11/88 Shopping Mall and Lucky Chinatown Shopping Center in Manila.
Through a letter sent to the Food and Drug Administration—Center for Cosmetic Regulation and Research, the group reported the sale of the nail art sets bearing the names “Beauty Nail,” “Don,” “Nail Salons,” “Nail Style,” and “Splendid Nails,” that worth P12.50 to P50 per set.
“The adhesive that is used to attach the artificial nail to the real one contains DBP, a chemical that has been linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive disorders, and even cancer,” said Ecowaste chemical safety campaigner Thony Dizon.
“We advise consumers, especially girls and women, to shun such products that can expose them to potential harm,” he added.
“DBP is not allowed as ingredient in cosmetics under the European Cosmetics Directive, as well as in the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive where it is listed among the substances that “must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products,” Dizon noted.
The FDA in 2015 issued an advisory on unnotified DBP-containing adhesive, saying that “DBP has the ability to cause allergic reactions” and warning that “there were previous cases where allergic response to DBP was found to be severe.”
“Allergic reactions can induce a state of hypersensitivity in the immune system. It can cause the immune system to respond to chemical exposures with immunological reactions that are harmful, varying from hives to life-threatening responses such as anaphylactic shock, where low blood pressure and breathing difficulties can result in death,” the FDA further warned.
DBP is listed by the EU as an endocrine-disrupting compound of high concern. According to studies, DBP has been shown to cause proliferation of breast tumor cells and to make anti-estrogen treatments less effective against tumors.
Ecowaste urged the FDA to conduct post-market surveillance targeting artificial nail sets that lack the required product notification, issue a public health warning against unnotified nail adhesive containing DBP and initiate law enforcement action, including seizure of non-compliant products, in coordination with local government, health, and police authorities.
The group also reminded consumers to patronize nail products with proper FDA Certificate of Product Notification and marketed by licensed manufacturer, importer or distributor.